So you’ve attended the hen do (most of it a blur), you’ve managed to buy a halfway-decent present from the hugely long wedding list – and do so on time, a feat of organisation – and you’ve found the slightly twee country church where the ceremony is taking place. You’ve squeezed into your ‘good’ dress, despite it clearly shrinking since you last wore it two years ago to the races. Your heels are on, and killing you already. The service is over blessedly quickly, and you’ve already told the bride she looks radiant. If only you could have a drink, and perhaps find a quiet corner to sit down for half an hour. But before you can relax, there is one more ordeal to get through – the wedding photo-call.

Those readers who are model-thin, with the kind of flawless cheekbones which always look good on film, stop reading now. Any other ordinary mortals concerned about their double chin, or big bones, read on.

Chances are, this wedding is taking place in the summer, so first things first: summer make-up. To avoid looking red, shiny, and sweaty, carry a compact in your handbag, so that you can discreetly apply powder as and when necessary. Avoid heavy eye-makeup and aging matte lipstick. Go for youthful, natural hues and a lighter lipgloss to avoid that over made up look. Modern make-up has better staying power than it did twenty years ago, and usually has a sheerer formulation, so if you haven’t had a make-up update for a while, now is the time to treat yourself.

As for clothing: we all do it, but wedding photographs are not the place to hang on to an image of yourself which is a few years out of date. Instead of dressing for our look and figure as it is, we all reach for the outfit which we see as an old favourite. Inevitably we end up squeezing ourselves into it, sure that if we just wear several pairs of control pants it’ll ‘look fine’. Too often we sacrifice style because we don’t want to admit to ourselves that we have put on weight, or that what looked spot on in 1987 doesn’t look quite right in 2012 (even if we haven’t put on a pound in the intervening years). So take advantage of the huge increase in personal shoppers in the past decade, and book an appointment with a professional. This doesn’t have to be a huge expense – many department stores don’t charge, so long as you spend a minimum amount – and takes the worry out of hunting for an outfit. Putting yourself in the hands of someone who really knows what they’re doing not only minimises your own stress, it will also introduce you to styles and colours you never knew you could wear, giving you a style update which will see you through not just weddings but informal events too, if that’s what you want.

Finally, remember the basic rules which models use to good effect: stand up straight (bad posture adds pounds), tilt your head up slightly to avoid double chins, and turn slightly side-on to the camera, to slim your silhouette. And, above all, smile!

Preparing for a wedding can be exciting and exhilarating yet at the same time stressful and emotional. Planning is the key factor while preparing for your wedding. Get yourself organized, get a wedding planner if necessary, follow suggested timelines and allow plenty of time to deal with untoward or unexpected surprises.

Setting a date

Typically, Saturday and Sundays are good days to have a wedding. However, now weekday weddings are becoming common and often, hotels, photographers and transport companies offer discounts for such days other than weekends. The decision of when to hold the wedding is also dependent on the availability of the church, registrar’s office, hotel or other such venue. Ensure that the place is free before you confirm the date.

Determine your budget

It is imperative to set a limit on expenses before you start planning. Decide what aspects are important and determine your budget accordingly. You can even open a special wedding account and set up a regular savings scheme.

Wedding theme

Decide on the theme – formal church wedding, beach wedding, relaxed intimate occasion at a country hotel, Vegas wedding etc. Your theme can be determined by any of your favourite things as well, a fragrant flower, color of you liking, shared interest or hobby. Whatever, the theme or style it may be, your personal touch will make your wedding a memorable one. Invitations, decorations and the venue may also depend on the theme you choose.

Key players at your wedding

Best man and chief bridesmaid should be decided upon carefully as they play an important role and help you to organize events at your wedding. Friends, family and other loved ones are also key players, so involve them as much as possible. Delegating some responsibility will help to lessen your burden. Use professionals like wedding planners and organizers if need be; their advice and experience will smoothen the process and ensure that you don’t miss out on anything important.

Plan and time your wedding photos appropriately

If you want your own collection of wedding photographs, hire a professional to take pictures at a suitable time. Ensure that your guests are occupied with drinks and entertainment while you are busy with the photography session. You can even place disposable cameras at different locations to encourage your guests to take candid shots.

Your guests are an important part of the entire ceremony

Do not ignore them, be thoughtful and ensure that they are entertained throughout, while waiting in the receiving line, while going through all your first dances, when your photos are being taken etc. You will always remember your special day; make sure they remember it too.

Wedding favors add a nice touch to the wedding

They are a token of gratitude and appreciation for your guests’ time spent at your wedding to make it a memorable one.

Choose your florist, designer etc

Ensure that you have chosen your florist and decided upon the flowers you intend to use at your wedding. Decide on your designer and outfits for you and your bridesmaids. All of this may depend on a special theme or style if any that you may have selected for the wedding.

Do whatever works for you

Are you conservative or modern? Invitations may depend on the theme, may be formal or informal. Bridesmaid dresses may or may not match. Your rehearsal does not have to be the night before. Make decisions that you are comfortable with, that make sense to you, your guests and your budget.

Relax and be yourself

Weddings can be a time of excitement, stress and frustration. Although every wedding couple has the highest expectations of perfection for their special day, remember that the wedding reception is a party to celebrate the marriage. Don’t overstress such that you spoil the day. Relax and enjoy!

The wedding day is your special day; a day that you have been waiting for. With so much to look forward to, make the whole planning and organizing process part of the fun. Don’t be overwhelmed by it; enjoy the experience!

Orlando, Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country because of its theme parks, but many people choose this city for their wedding location because of the multitude of venues, talented photographers and excellent spots for amazing photos. Whether they live in this city or they just want to hold their wedding here, couples will definitely not be disappointed by everything this city has to offer. Wedding photos are a very important part of any wedding, because they are the ones that will allow you in the future to remember your big day easily and remember you of how happy and beautiful you both were that day. To this extent, your Orlando photographer will advise you on what location you should choose to have your wedding photos. One of the most popular photography sites these days are the Harry P. Leu Gardens. The winding paths filled with a multitude of plant collections will look enchanting in any photo and offer couples an amazing photo opportunity. This garden has 50 acres and will offer your Orlando wedding photographer the chance to make unbelievably beautiful photos.

Another spot preferred by many couples when it comes to taking wedding pictures are the Kraft Azalea Gardens. These gardens offer couples eleven acres of scenic plants on the shores of Lake Maitland. Talk to your Orlando photographer and you will see that he or she will be very excited of this location. Those who dream of having surreal scenery in their wedding photos can rely on these gardens to be exactly what they were hoping for. Orlando’s gardens are well-known for their beauty, but those who are looking for a more modern décor, filled with architecture will find downtown Orlando the perfect location. You could always have a photo shoot near The SunTrust Center or any of the skyscrapers that can be found in this city. Orlando will always provide the perfect setting for your wedding photos and a professional Orlando wedding photographer will always have a few ideas to make you look as beautiful as possible.

Everybody wants their wedding photos to be perfect and when you have a city such as Orlando as your set, the possibilities are practically endless. Whether you want to have a nature background filled with colorful flowers and beautiful trees or you prefer the modern downtown setting, this city has everything a couple needs to obtain perfect photos that will remind them of their beautiful wedding day. Those who are lucky enough to live close to this city should definitely not miss the opportunity to take their wedding photos in one or more of the beautiful locations offered by Orlando. They will definitely be happy with their choice in a few years, once they look over their pictures and see how beautiful they are. Those who want to obtain those perfect wedding photos that you only see on the internet can rely on Orlando to provide them with the right setting for beautiful and elegant photos.

The Luo is a tribe found on the Lake Victoria basin in the East African country of Kenya. Currently, they constitute the third largest tribe in Kenya, accounting for about 13% or 3 million of the country’s population. Some of them have moved to the neighboring countries of Tanzania and Uganda. Unlike in Canadian cities like Toronto where weddings are colorful with many wedding photos, culture permeates Luo wedding activities for this tribe. From birth to death, traditions and culture dictate the society. Recently however, this cultural fabric is disintegrating and many traditions are losing acceptance.

A Luo wedding is a very significant event among the Luo and remaining unmarried is considered inappropriate. Thus to enable all people to get married, polygamy is widely practiced. Despite the many tribes in this populous nation, many Luos still marry within the Luo ethnic group. With the coming of Christianity, many Luo weddings are performed in churches, just like Toronto weddings, with many wedding photos to show for it.

Before a wedding, women are required to organize the menu. Usually, the bride and bridegroom take the financial responsibility of ensuring that everything is catered for. A bridal party of up to twenty people can be organized. Before the wedding day, the bridegroom must visit the bride’s village, accompanied by elders from his village. Usually, the bridegroom must arrive in style and usually this means a fleet of cars. There are many wedding photos taken at this point. All this is done on the eve of the wedding and the bridegroom is required to give everything he is asked for by both the in-laws and the village elders.

The wedding usually lasts the entire day. Wedding photos are taken while the bridegroom goes to the brides homestead and picks her up early in the morning. From there they make their way to the church for the ceremony. This is a typical western ceremony as witnessed in Toronto. After the church ceremony, they go to the reception, which is held in a venue that can accommodate a large number of people. Usually it is a field or a designated hall or even the bridegroom’s home. Here the community is invited to a large feast and people bring gifts to the couple. People of the community are allowed to speak and offer words of wisdom to the now newly married couple. At times enacted demonstrations or plays may be performed to entertain the guests.

After the reception, where many wedding photos are taken, there is an evening party, usually for a few designated individuals. The couple opens the dance floor with a slow romantic dance and after the first dance, the rest join in. The bridegroom is expected to pay for the drinks and food that is consumed. This party usually lasts the whole night even after the already exhausted couple retires for the night.

As Luo’s embrace western culture and practices, honeymoons and anniversaries are becoming common. In Toronto, luxury vehicles accompany many wedding couples and as result, many Luo people who have the financial capacity have had weddings just like those in Toronto right in their homeland. With the changing cultures, the traditional wedding is slowly being replaced by the western wedding style.